The Strength trait is accessible to the AI when it designs a unit from scratch. (Is this also where the bonus traits Bloodthirsty and Ironskin are coming from?)
In a few recent battles where I was the attacker, the defending army did not start defending. Shields were above some units, but none of the units showed a defensive bonus.
It seems like, when an AI army's path is blocked (usually by another army) it confuses the AI and the army just sits there... sometimes for 10 seasons or more.
The new gear (Soldier's Cloak, etc) is not accessible through the store. Is this intended? I do remember seeing either the FA Kit or Rations in the store in my previous game, but it hit me this game that most of the new items are not accessible.